The Bible condemns sudden and uncontrolled anger, and we are left in no doubt that it is wrong: “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.” Loss of temper beyond control brings so many dangers, notably that of violence, as evidenced by the crime that has become so much a pattern of contemporary life. The teaching of Scripture calls for meekness, humility, for bearance and quiet faith, the very opposite of these things. The way of the world is not God’s way because society sets its own patterns of conduct and these run counter to the law of God. In the world there is excess, pride and inhumanity, to the point where Divine law is regarded as outmoded and unsuited to the time in which we live.
There are many instances in Scripture where the contrast between rich and poor is graphically shown. It is the difference between privilege and lack, between those who enjoy position and favour and those who are always in need: “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.” We find this to be only too true in a world where material gain has become so competitive and something to be striven for. The Bible puts all things in their correct perspective, and reveals men and women in their correct light.
The Book of Proverbs highlights certain facets of human relationships that we know to be true: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Daily living calls for the continual use of tact and discretion so that offence and misunderstanding may be avoided. This is no less true of our contacts in the brotherhood: “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
Social reformers and youth organizations all recognize the need for religion in the home, and it is claimed that the lack of such Christian principles frequently gives rise to domestic upheaval and juvenile delinquency: “In the house of righteousness is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.” And then again we read: “The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.”
The Proverbs urge us to continual self-examination because of the manifest danger of complacency and self-righteousness: “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.” It is clear that we have no righteousness of our own, but that we stand in need of forgiveness every hour. It is so easy to drift along from day to day, convincing ourselves that we are living the good life. By so doing we can deceive ourselves and our friends, but we cannot deceive God. In the final analysis the truth about ourselves will be known.
In our journey through life we make mistakes, and none of us would want to dispute this assertion. It all means that there are moments of strength and moments of weakness in our lives, clear evidence that we stand in need of forgiveness and redemption. We are expected to profit from our experiences, and develop the character within the framework of God’s law: “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”
The Proverbs dilate upon the abhorrence of pride in the sight of God: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride is a pronounced attribute in human nature, and a major cause of the troubles of the world. It is something that is insidious, and becomes a snare and a delusion unless we see ourselves for what we are.
In the Book of Proverbs our attention is drawn to the exercise of discretion and sincerity: “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” Life has taught us the truth of these words. A breach of confidence is liable to cause friction and cleavage.
The Proverb says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. There can be no doubt that what the tongue speaks either exalts or debases the human spirit. James drews attention to the debasement brought about by the wrong use of the tongue: “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
The Proverbs cover a wide range of human conduct, and if we base our life upon their moral precepts then we would most assuredly be on the right road to the Kingdom of God. It is all a matter of personal choice. If we choose the narrow way then our lives will be enriched by the treasures of truth, but if on the other hand we are lax in the things of God, then the signposts become blurred until ultimately we lose our way and have to retrace our steps.
We are instructed, too, in the matter of our daily work, being reminded that slothful service is an offence that weakens the character: “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” We are urged to diligence in serving our earthly masters. But how much greater is our responsibility in our service to God!
Then, again, our attention is drawn to the trouble and sorrow brought to a family by a delinquent child: “A foolish son is the calamity of his father.” Society knows this affliction only too well. The annals of crime reflect this deplorable condition with grim eloquence, and the position grows steadily worse.
The Proverb exposes the dangers in alcohol addiction because of the debasement and degradation that accompanies it: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” A material and artificial society owes much of its malady to over-indulgence in alcohol.
The Book of Proverbs goes right to the heart of things, uncovering much of which is so typical of human nature. We have, for instance, the scathing reference to tale-bearing: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”
The Proverbs are meticulous in emphasising the great virtue in a good name: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” It is character that counts in the sight of God, not what we seem to be to ourselves and to those around us.
The brethren and sisters and the Sunday school teachers know the truth of the Proverb concerning the training of children: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Our own experience has been that if the children are given religious instruction at home, and given a good example by the parents, then many of them accept the truth when they are older. Thus we can endorse the happy truth in this Proverb, with thankfulness to God who giveth the increase.
We are instructed to live for today in the fear of God, living it to the best of our ability: “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” It is true that we do not know what lies around the next corner, so to speak. The best laid plans are meaningless unless we devote something of that planning to God and his service. All our designs for the future are as nought when compared with what is expected of us this day.
The contrast between rich and poor occurs intermittently in the Book. We find the unbelieving rich compared with the humble and contrite poor: “Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. . . . The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.” The difference between the two states is accentuated because, generally speaking, great wealth leads men and women away from the humble and self-denying principles of belief.
The Proverb declares that “where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”. This is true of nations as well as individuals. Nations that show no concern for Christian standards, and we believe that most of them fall into this category, must of necessity be decadent, and, therefore, place themselves outside of the promises of God. We claim that this is the actual position of the nations today—a state of apathy and indifference to what God has declared to be the duty of man.
Ask the man in the street the following question, posed by the Proverb: “Who hath ascended, or descended: who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” The man in the street couldn’t answer because he doesn’t really care anyway. He is not interested in anything that cannot be worked out on paper scientifically. The world has gone madly after science and technology, and has become the victim of its own folly.
What is the position then? Let the Proverb give the answer: “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. . . . There is a generation, 0 how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. . . . There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.”
We can find all the evil attributes of a godless society reflected in the Book of Proverbs. We live in a world where the righteous are hated: “The bloodthirsty hate the upright.”
For every man and woman the time of opportunity is not long, but in this life we must make our choice, and it is a choice between life and death, between light and darkness. There is no middle course, and in the pattern of our lives is found the answer to these things. He that has chosen that good part is in light and will see the New Jerusalem. He that is unrighteous abides in darkness and will reap the fruits of folly. The choice is ours: choose now; choose well.
Is Pentecost Happening Today? (Part 7) – Tongues Shall Cease